If you think suits mean stuffy, you’re doing it wrong. Tailoring is steeped in tradition, but things have evolved a lot over the years. Menswear across the board has loosened up, and the goalposts for what constitutes a suit have widened significantly.

A bespoke Savile Row-made tuxedo falls under the tailoring umbrella, but so does a two-piece cotton-twill trouser-and-chore jacket set from a casual-leaning label such as Universal Works. It’s a spectrum.

We love tailoring, but we’ll be the first to admit it can be an intimidating world to step into. That’s why the best relaxed-tailoring brands provide such positive service. They democratise suits, opening them up to a whole market of people who might not think of themselves as ‘suit people’. Suddenly, you can wear something special to dress up or mark an occasion without feeling constricted or like you’re playing dress-up.

There are countless brands that fall into this admittedly rather loosely defined category, ranging from essentially just elevated casualwear to more luxury-leaning labels that play with shape and proportion to achieve a more laid-back look. Here is a handpicked list of the ones we think do it best.

Universal Works

Workwear sits at the heart of everything Universal Works does, which is why the ‘suits’ feel so easy to wear. Matching sets are cut loose, fabrics lean towards textured cottons and durable twills, and structure is kept to a minimum.

It’s tailoring in the broadest sense: practical, unfussy and designed to slot straight into everyday life.

Shop now at END.

Drake’s

Soft tailoring with a unique sense of character. Ivy League references run through it, but nothing feels costume-like. Jackets are lightly constructed, trousers have room to swish, and the overall effect is relaxed without losing that sense of polish.

One of the few British labels that can make a classic suit feel genuinely nonchalant.

Shop now at Drake’s

Oliver Spencer

 

Few designers understand how men actually dress quite like Oliver Spencer. Relaxed silhouettes, garment-dyed finishes and soft fabrics keep things grounded, while the cuts still hold enough shape to feel considered and elegant.

It lands somewhere between tailoring and elevated casualwear, which is a good spot to aim for if you ask us.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Velasca

That hard-to-quantify sense of Italian ease runs through everything Velasca does. Soft construction and lightweight fabrics create a relaxed, natural drape, while the cuts remain sharp enough to feel put-together.

It sits slightly smarter than some of the others here, but never crosses into anything overly rigid.

Shop now at Velasca

Wax London

Wax London is less about suits in the traditional sense and more about matching sets that borrow the language of tailoring. Think boxy overshirts, elasticated waists and textured fabrics that make everything feel approachable without tipping too far into T-shirt-and-jeans territory.

An easy entry point if anything too structured leaves you feeling like you’re playing dress-up.

Shop now at Wax London

Percival

British brand Percival is a firm favourite here at Ape, offering a slightly irreverent take on tailoring. The cuts are relaxed, fabrics can be playful, and the whole thing feels deliberately low-pressure in comparison to the old guard.

In short, it takes the stiffness out of suiting without stripping away the charm, and we’re here for it.

Shop now at Percival

Sunspel

 

Not a tailoring house by any stretch of the imagination, but the way it handles soft jackets and refined separates earns it a place here.

Fabric is the main event – lightweight, breathable and quietly luxurious, with just enough structure to hold everything together.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Studio Nicholson

Studio Nicholson’s take on tailoring is all about volume. Wider trousers, broader jackets, billowy shirts, but with carefully balanced proportions that create a relaxed feel without looking sloppy.

It’s precise, considered and a good example of how shape alone can redefine tailoring… when it’s done properly.

Shop now at SSENSE

Stòffa

Subtlety is the name of the game with Stoffa. Here you’ll find made-to-measure pieces with almost no visible structure, cut to follow the body rather than impose on it.

Loose, soft and often rendered in unconventional textured fabrics.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Margaret Howell

 

Margaret Howell’s take on tailoring is understated to the point of near invisibility. Think soft fabrics, workwear-adjacent construction and just enough room through the body.

These suits feel lived-in from the word go.

Shop now at Farfetch

Lemaire

Fluid, draped and slightly architectural, Lemaire’s jackets hang rather than hug, its trousers fall cleanly, and the overall impression is one of calm, controlled ease rather than tradition-obsessed stiffness.

This is tailoring, make no mistake, but viewed through a softer, more contemporary lens.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Séfr

A slightly moodier, more fashion-aware take on relaxed tailoring, Séfr keeps things slim but soft, favouring fluid fabrics and muted tones that lend its pieces an understated edge.

Think suits that feel at home in dimly lit bars and creative studios in the coolest pockets of Northern European cities rather than stuffy corporate boardrooms.

Shop now at Farfetch

Our Legacy

Our Legacy strips away the stiffness through relaxed cuts and fabrics that feel washed, worn and perhaps a tad out of the ordinary at times.

These are suits designed to be worn casually – thrown on with a T-shirt, broken up into separates, and lived in rather than preserved.

Shop now at END.

Mfpen

Mfpen’s approach is rooted in sustainability, but it never feels preachy. Deadstock fabrics give its tailoring a distinctive, slightly irregular character, while the silhouettes remain loose and easy.

It’s the sort of clothing that rewards a closer look – simple at first glance, but full of nuance when you start to pay even just a little bit of attention.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Auralee

Another label that’s making waves in the menswear world by putting fabric at the fore, Auralee develops many of its textiles in-house, resulting in suits that feel exceptionally soft, fluid and, crucially, completely unique.

The cuts are relaxed, allowing those materials to drape naturally over the body, creating an overall laid-back feel.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Folk

Clean lines, soft structure and just enough detail to keep things interesting, Folk’s casual tailoring is built around daily wearability, using textured fabrics and relaxed cuts to create suits that feel natural in everyday settings as opposed to being reserved for special occasions.

Understated, sure, but never boring with it.

Shop now at END.

NN07

A straightforward, accessible take on relaxed tailoring. NN07 keeps things clean and easy, with comfortable fits and just enough structure to maintain a smart appearance.

It doesn’t overcomplicate things, which makes it a solid option for anyone looking to dip a toe into softer suiting.

Shop now at END.

A Day’s March

Stripped back to the essentials. A Day’s March focuses on clean silhouettes, minimal detailing and fabrics that prioritise comfort.

The result is tailoring that feels modern and wearable without chasing trends – the sort of suit you can rely on without thinking too hard about it.

Shop now at A Day’s March

Barena Venezia

A long-standing reference point for relaxed Italian tailoring, Barena leans on garment-dyed fabrics and unstructured silhouettes to give everything that slightly rumpled, lived-in feel.

It’s effortless and breezy. The kind of stuff that looks better the more you wear it.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Nanamica

Gore-Tex suits? Oh, go on then. Japanese label Nanamica sits at the intersection of tailoring and performance, using technical fabrics to create lightweight, breathable and often weather-resistant suits.

Cuts are relaxed, movement is prioritised, and the overall effect feels genuinely practical for modern life, but more at home in the city than in the great outdoors.

Shop now at Farfetch